Folding umbrella



(N0 Model.)

JR. :5. JOHNSTON.

FOLDING UMBRELLA,

Patented May 16, 1893.

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FOLDING UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,578, dated May 16,1893.

Application filed June 18, 1892- Serial No. 437,148- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitkuown that I, ROBERT E. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States,residingat Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan. have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Umbrellas; and Ideclare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exactidescription of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to umbrellas, and has for its object an improvedconstruction by means of which the cloth supporting ribs and the handlemay be shortened and the entire umbrella folded up into a much smallerand more compact shape than in the ordinary form.

In carrying out this inventioml make each one of the supporting ribs intwo pieces, and so unite them with the supporting brace that, whenextended and opened in the position of an opened umbrella, they form acontinuous rib from the apex to the rim, locked securely together; butwhen the umbrella is folded down, the parts automatically unlock and maybe pushed or slid into compact shape of little more than half the lengthof the rib employed in the distended umbrella; I also make the handle orstafi in two or more parts adapted to be secured together by screwjoints or fish-pole joints, and adapted to be separated for convenienceof packing into small compass. I attain the results by means of theimprovements shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 represents theumbrella frame in its open or distended position, the ribs taking theposition they would occupy when subjected to the strain of the attachedcloth. Fig. 2 shows the staff with a single rib in a distended or openposition, not, however, strained or bent by the cover. Fig. 3 shows thesame parts in a closed position, and with the two parts of the ribpushed into their compact form. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of thejoint.

Each rib is made in two parts,aand b. The part a is secured by theordinary hinge to the head A, the hinge consisting of a wire ring lyingin a groove of the head A, and passing through a hole in the end of therib'a. To the outer end of the short half rib a is secured a perforatedguide 0, and through the perforated guide 0 passes the body part of thehalf rib b. To the inner end of the half rib b is secured a perforatedguide d, through which passes the body of the half rib a; the two halfribs (1 and b are thus .slidingly secured together, and are capable ofbeing extended to a length equal to their combined length, or of beingshortened toa length little more than half their combined length. To thesliding'guide d is hinged the ordinary brace rod 8, and the brace rodeis hinged at its lower end to the runnerf, in the ordinary way. To theguide 0 is hinged a ringg that passes around the brace e.

The staff of the umbrella is made in two or more parts, as may bedesired, secured together by a screw joint, h, h, or by the fish polejointin place of ascrewjoint if it be desired.

When it is desired to distend or open the umbrella, the handle orstaffpieces are screwed together, and the runner f is firstdrawn downwardalong the staff until the half rib b has been pulled downward along thehalf rib or as far as it will go. The lower ends of the ribs are thenthrown slightly outward from the staff, or allowed to fall slightlyoutward from the staff, and the runner f pushed upward until it passesabove and is caught by the spring catch k. When in this position, thering g assumes a position parallel or nearly parallel with the rib, andextends from the guidecto and around the guide cl, having reached thisplace by sliding upward and outward along the brace e as the umbrellawas opened; and when in this position, shown in Fig. 2, the ring gsecurely locks the two parts of the rib in their distended or elongatedposition, and prevents the strain of the clothof the umbrella cover fromdrawing the part b inward, holding the cloth fully strained and givingthe umbrella the appearance of the ordinary umbrella. The ring 9 acts tolock the parts in their distended position entirely automatically,without the necessityof having any attention given to it. The top, t, Isecure to the end of the staff above the guard ferrule Z, by screwjoint, similar in form to the screw joint connecting the two parts ofthe staff. When the umbrella is closed without shortening it up forpacking purposes, the lower catch 70 holds the ribs in their elongatedposition, and gives to the umbrella the appearance of the ordinaryclosed umbrella. On the under side of the half rib a is secured a lightspring M, bent outward at m, and the slide d passes over this spring asit moves to shorten the rib, or moves outward to give the rib itsextreme length; in moving out, however, the slide 61 does not passentirely beyond or'oit from the spring; the purpose of the spring is toincrease the frictional resistance, and prevent a tendency of the partsto slide together when that action is not desired.

hat I claim is 1. In an umbrella, a rib formed of two parts slidinglysecured together, a supporting brace connecting the inner end of theoutermost of said sliding parts and the runner, and a ring secured tothe outer end of the innermost part of said rib and embracing the brace,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an umbrella, a rib formed in two parts slidingly secured together,a supporting brace connecting the innerend of the outermost of saidparts and the runner, a curved spring, secured to the in nermost of thesaid two parts, extending in an outward bending curve, to and engagingunder the sliding guide uniting the parts of said rib, whereby a curvedpart of said springis adapted to present an obstacle to the freemovement of said sliding guide, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

3. In' an umbrella, a rib formed of two parts, slidingly securedtogether, asupporting brace connecting the inner end of the outermost ofthe said sliding parts and the runner, mechanism for locking the twoparts in their extended position,said locking mechanism consisting of aswinging part secured to the outermost part of the rib, and engaging thebrace, and adapted to be forced into locking position by the movement ofthe brace in opening the umbrella, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT E. JOHNSTON. \Vitnesses:

MARION A. REEVE, FRANCIS CLOUGH.

